Like Wayne Rooney, Torres has been
one of the big names to go missing at
this World Cup.

Misfiring: Spain striker Fernando Torres is yet to open his account

Troubled by injury at
the end of the season, El Nino has lost
his spark.

Unlike England, Spain have proved
strong enough to advance without
much of a contribution from their
central striker but that hasn’t stopped
a campaign to replace him with Fernando
Llorente gathering pace ahead of
today’s quarter-final against Paraguay.

Athletic Bilbao striker Llorente
impressed when he came off the bench
against Portugal in the last 16 and
readers of Spanish sports paper
Marca voted overwhelmingly in favour
of the switch, yet manager Vicente del
Bosque is resisting change.

‘Our forward at the moment is
Torres,’ said Del Bosque.

‘He has
played a part in all four matches, quite
a few minutes, and he’ll play more. We
have full confidence in him.’

At least the pressure on the European
champions has been eased by
David Villa’s terrific form. His four
goals have taken his record for Spain
to 42 in 62 games.

Villa is only two
behind record scorer Raul and he is
happy with Torres in the team.
‘I don’t agree with those who say his
performances have been below par,’
said Villa.

‘The only blame you can pin
on him is that he hasn’t scored.’

Roque Santa Cruz hopes the grumbling
will tempt Spain to take more
risks in attack against a Paraguay
team who were strong in qualifying
but are ranked 31st in the world, 29
places behind Del Bosque’s team.

‘Spain will want to go out and
explore what they are,’ said Paraguay
striker Santa Cruz.

‘We have a team
who are very experienced and we are
not afraid to play anyone, especially
when we’re taking on a side who won’t
just want to defend.’

Paraguay are not pleased with the
choice of referee.

Carlos Batres, from
Guatemala, took charge of their defeat
by Germany in the 2002 World Cup,
when he turned down a series of penalty
appeals and sent off Roberto Acuna.